Sprout inhibitor for potato and method of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sprout inhibitor for potato and a method of inhibiting sprout formation in tubers. More particularly, the present invention relates to acetolactate synthase (ALS) herbicide as tuber sprout inhibitor. The present invention further provides compositions comprising acetolactate synthase (ALS) as anti-sprouting agent.

1 .) A composition for tuber sprout inhibition, said composition comprising an acetolactate synthase (ALS) compound. 
     
     
         2 .) The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said acetolactate synthase compound is selected from imidazolinones, pyrimidinylthiobenzoates, sulfonylamino carbonyl triazolinones, ureas preferably sulfonylureas, pyrazole, triazolones, triazolopyrimidines and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 .) The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said acetolactate synthase compound is an imidazolinone compound selected from imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazaquin, amzethapyr, imazapyr, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 .) The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said imidazolinone compound is amazamox. 
     
     
         5 .) The composition according to  claim 1 , in the form of a liquid composition. 
     
     
         6 .) The composition according to  claim 5 , wherein said liquid composition is soluble concentrate (SL). 
     
     
         7 .) The composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition is an aqueous liquid composition. 
     
     
         8 .) The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second sprout inhibitor. 
     
     
         9 .) The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one agrochemically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         10 .) The composition according to  claim 9 , wherein said agrochemically acceptable carrier comprises a surfactant, a filler, a crystallization inhibitor, a viscosity modifier, a solvent, a suspending agent, a spray droplet modifier, a pigment, an antioxidant, a foaming agent, a compatibilizing agent, an antifoam agent, a sequestering agent, a neutralizing agent, a buffer, a spreading agent, an emollient, a dispersing agent, a thickening agent, an antimicrobial agent, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 .) A method for inhibiting sprouting of tubers, said method comprising treating the tuber under pre-storage or storage condition with imazamox. 
     
     
         12 .) A method for treatment of tubers comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a composition comprising an acetolactate synthase herbicide; and   b. applying the composition onto said tubers.   
     
     
         13 .) The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein applying is by spraying or fogging method. 
     
     
         14 .) The method according to  claim 12 , comprising diluting the composition by mixing the composition with an aqueous liquid prior to applying. 
     
     
         15 .) The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the composition comprises about 100 to 250 grams/liter of imazamox as the acetolactate synthase herbicide. 
     
     
         16 .) The method according to  claim 12 , wherein spraying is repeated within a period of from 2 to 8 months from the first spray treatment. 
     
     
         17 .) (canceled) 
     
     
         18 .) (canceled) 
     
     
         19 .) (canceled) 
     
     
         20 .) (canceled) 
     
     
         21 .) (canceled)